A2 / NEWS B4 / HOMEFOLK No need to lose Preservation project sleep over shift to completed at Carl daylight saving time Elliott House Museum Daily Mountain Eagle “The newspaper that cares about Walker County” MOUNTAINEAGLE.COM WEEKEND EDITION, MARCH 13-14, 2021 $1.50 Alabama WALKER COUNTY COMMISSION moving to 30% hike in garbage rates on the table By JAMES PHILLIPS cial solid waste services. requested a copy of the binder or Daily Mountain Eagle During the meeting, Commis- the slides that were to be shown, 1C vaccine sion Chairman Steve Miller had but those were not sent to the The Walker County Commis- county administrator Robbie newspaper by press time Friday sion met in a three-hour work Dickerson lay out three options afternoon. groups session Thursday morning to commissioners could consider in Option 1 would see the coun- discuss the future of its solid the future. The options were giv- ty retain all control of solid COVID-19 deaths falling waste department. Officials want en to commissioners in a binder. waste services, but called for a but Americans to determine if the county should Pages from the binder were to be 30 percent hike on residential ‘must remain vigilant’ / A3 continue in the solid waste busi- presented via projector, but that customers, which would take ness or hire a private entity to did not happen due to technical Steve See GARBAGE, A7 By ED HOWELL Miller provide residential and commer- issues. The Daily Mountain Eagle Daily Mountain Eagle The state’s health officer, Dr. Scott Harris, said Friday Alabama this month will double the number of WALKER COUNTY people eligible to receive a COVID-19 SCHOOLS vaccine. Alabama is going to expand ‘We’re its eligibility for COVID-19 vacci- nations beginning seeing a March 22. That will be a week from Monday,” Harris decline’ said in a press conference Friday morning. “At that Dr. Scott Quarantine time, Alabama is Harris numbers rapidly going to include all persons in Phase 1C. We are also dropping in going to include all persons age 55 county schools and up.” In addition to adding high risk Willingham takes medical conditions, but the state will oath of office / A7 also include people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as By NICOLE SMITH well, he said. Daily Mountain Eagle See VACCINE, A8 Daily Mountain Eagle - Nicole Smith The Walker County Board of Education is T.R. Simmons Elementary first-grade teacher Josie Tuggle does a virtual lesson with seeing a sharp decline JASPER her students on Wednesday. Access to high-speed Internet has been crucial for edu- in the number of those CITY COUNCIL cators and students during the pandemic. in quarantine, and COVID-19 cases remain low in City to start schools, but the reopening ‘It’s the way school system is still other facilities taking of the future’ many April 9 precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. By ED HOWELL Jasper growing as a hub for remote workforce Superintendent Dr. Daily Mountain Eagle Dennis Willingham provided the latest By NICOLE SMITH a big thing and getting a lot were working from home in Mayor David O’Mary indicated COVID-19 statistics for Daily Mountain Eagle of traction. Now with the pan- October of last year. Prior to Friday that when the statewide demic, that’s going to acceler- the pandemic, only 20 percent the school system from COVID-19 mask mandate ends on With fiber Internet now a ate the pace of people work- were working from home. March 2 through March April 9, the City of Jasper will start reality in Jasper, the city is ing remotely and working C Spire, which began of- 9. During that time, four to open up more of its facilities, in- poised to be a hub for work- from home. It makes a lot of fering ultra-fast, fiber-based students tested positive cluding the Jasper Civic Center and ing remotely as technology sense and probably produces broadband Internet to some for COVID-19. No staff Memorial Park Natatorium. advances and more people some savings for companies Jasper residents at the end of members were newly The matter was brought up in work from home as a result of and gives people a lot of lati- 2020, has helped the city be diagnosed. Friday’s Jasper City Council work the COVID-19 pandemic. tude about where they live.” ahead of the curve in prepar- Only 59 students were session. “Working remotely is According to the Pew ing for what could be a grow- in quarantine, which O’Mary noted that Gov. Kay Ivey something that has been Research Center that con- ing trend of people working is the lowest reported said her mask mandate would end gaining popularity now for ducts public opinion polling remotely. figure in months. Six on April 9, and that other facilities four years or maybe a little and demographic research, O’Mary said conversations staff members were also approximately 71 percent of See JASPER, A7 longer,” Jasper Mayor David O’Mary said. “It’s becoming adults in the United States See REMOTE, A7 See SCHOOLS, A7 DEATHS WEATHER INDEX SOCIAL Bobbie Nell Murray, 78, Double Springs Classifieds .................... B6 LEFT Billy Joe Freeman, 68, Jasper Dear Abby ..................... A4 Bobby Lee Martin, 84, Oakman ON Homefolk ....................... B4 RED Wayne Morris King, 80, Sumiton Use your Horoscope .................... A4 Donna Ann Muck, 50, Jasper phone to Sports ............................ B1 Find us on your Nancy ‘Neana’ Shell Johnston, 62, Jasper High Low quickly sign Viewpoints .................... A6 favorite podcast Jimmie Sue Espy, 83, Carbon Hill up for our streaming 81 53 weekly e-mail platforms. OBITUARIES / A2 newsletter Two sections, 16 pages A2 | Daily Mountain Eagle | WEEKEND EDITION, MARCH 13-14, 2021 Today’s weather Obituaries Forecast for Saturday, March 13, 2021 TENN. Oxford 77/58 Huntsville Bobbie Nell Murray Bobby Lee Martin ARK. 75/56 Bobbie Nell Murray, 78, of Double Springs, entered March 9, 1937-March 10, 2021 into rest Wednesday, March 10, 2021, at Huntsville Bobby Lee Martin, 84, of Oakman, passed away GA. Hospital Emergency Room. Wednesday, March 10, 2021, at his residence. Mrs. Murray was born April 22, The family will receive friends Greenville Birmingham 79/59 81/56 1942, in Alabama. Bobbie was an Friday, March 12, 2021, from 6 employee of 20 years at Drummond until 8 p.m. at Collins-Burke Fu- Coal Company where she worked neral Home. Funeral services will in many different positions. After be Saturday, March 13, 2021, at 11 Jackson Montgomery 81/57 84/54 leaving Drummond, Mrs. Murray a.m. at Oakman Freewill Baptist went back to school to become an Church, with burial at Gibson Hill Brookhaven Hattiesburg operating room technician. Mrs. Cemetery. Johnny Martin and 78/58 81/55 Bobbie absolutely loved working Spurgeon Kimbrell will officiate. in the operating room and worked Mr. Martin was preceded in death Mobile 78/55 FLA. there until she retired. by his wife, Luceal Lester Martin; LA. Visitation will be held Sunday, March 14, 2021, mother, Orene Martin; father, Howard Martin; and from noon until 1:30 p.m. at Nichols Funeral Home in brother, Larry Martin. Double Springs. A graveside service will be held at 2 He is survived by his wife, Ellis Frost Martin of p.m. at Pinetucky Missionary Baptist Church Ceme- Oakman; daughters, Rhonda Millwood (Louie) of tery in Double Springs, where burial will follow. Oakman, Sarah Conner (Greg) of Jasper, Teresa Rob- Bobbie is survived by her daughters, Vanda (Tony) ertson (Tony) of Jasper and Susan Renfroe (Jimmy) of ©2021 AccuWeather, Inc. Aaron and Donna (Bobby) Harris; a sister, Jan- Tenn.; sons, Edwin Martin (Carla) of Woodstock, Ga., ice (Robert) Poppenhusen; grandchildren, Damon Earl Martin (Roxie) of Oakman, Kenneth Mills of (Stephanie) Williamson, Devin (Rob) Coble, Court- Tenn., and David Mills (Julie) of Tenn.; sisters, Patsy ney Hamby, Clint (Rusti) Harris, and Emily (Seth) Ingle of Oakman and Linda Dunn (Lunie) of Berry; No need to lose Cheatham; great-grandchildren, Dakota Morris, brothers, Henry Martin (Donna) of Oakman and Brayden Williamson, Blaine Coble, Canaan William- Johnny Martin (Sarah) of Oakman; grandchildren, son, Trent Marks, Colden Mertens, Avery Hamby, Kaitlny Martin of Ga., Cody Martin of Ga., Whistle sleep over shift to Ansley Hamby, Daryl Coble, Bobby Coble, Patricia Vintson (Brittany) of Carbon Hill, Mason Millwood Miles, Kruz Cheatham, Kannen Cheatham, Hunter of Oakman, Justin Millwood of Oakman and Jona- daylight saving time Ellis, and Cade Harris; great-great-grandchildren, than of Oakman; seven special grandchildren; and Cooper Miles, Rosie Miles, and Nate Miles; honorary great-grandchild, Judson Vintson. WASHINGTON (AP) — No need to lose sleep over grandsons, Eli Dempsey, Hunter Sutherland, Jessie Pallbearers will be Justin Millwood, Mason Mill- the shift to daylight saving time this weekend. Todd, and Rhett Guthrie; and very special friend, wood, Martin “Whistle” Vintson, Colt Courington, The sun will still come up, though the dawn’s early Rebecca Guthrie. Johnny Martin, Logan Martin, Jonathon Martin and light will break through She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Jeremy Martin. later than it has during W. “Bill” Murray; son, Robert Charles “Bubba” Davis; the months of standard parents, Charles H. and Lonella Christine Jones; and Collins-Burke Funeral Home, Jasper; 205-384-5571 time and the twilight’s sister, Peggye Alexander. last gleaming will extend Memories and condolences may be shared at www. deeper into the evening. nicholsfuneralhomes.com. Wayne Morris King The annual shift comes Wayne Morris King, 80, of Sumiton, went home to at 2 a.m. local time Sun- Nichols Funeral Home, Double Springs; 205-489-5139 be with the Lord Tuesday, March 9, 2021, at Prince- day in most of the United ton Baptist Medical Center.